GALWAY CITY COUNCIL took the ‘Festival of the Year’ award at the 2025 Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards beating off competition from neighbours Clare.
Clare County Council was nominated in three categories but left the national ceremony held recently, empty-handed. The live-stream and coverage of the 2024 local elections, produced by Dunphy Communications was shortlisted in the communications category with Knocknahila Bog Peatland Rewetting Project nominated in the sustainable environment and biodiversity bracket.
Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy was nominated for Festival of the Year but lost out to the ‘Galway Climate Inspirations Festival – Communities in Action’ festival. The Dublin City Sensoria Festival, Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival, Brigid – Spirit of Kildare Festival and Kilkenny’s Toil and Trouble were also in the running.
Launched in 2024, the ‘Galway Climate Inspirations Festival – Communities in Action’ is an annual event that reimagines climate action as a positive, creative, and community-led movement. The festival aims to move away from fear-based messaging and instead celebrate community-led climate action through art, culture, and collaboration. It aims to harness Galway’s theatrical, musical, artistic, sporting, and culinary traditions, as well as its Gaeilge heritage, to inspire climate action.
Past President Mary Robinson, broadcaster Philip Boucher Hayes, musician John Spillane, comedian Colm O’Regan, journalist Ella McSweeney, Fregoli Street theatre, Stomptown Brassband and a host of other performers, speakers and supporters brought the streets of Galway City alive for this community climate action festival.
2025 added a new climate carnival to Fr. Burke Park with talks, a volunteer fair, live music, local food and coffee stalls. A Street party followed in Galways Westend with Boola Boom percussion and Bang Bike DJs. A Decarbonisation zone walk and talk and Féasta – a long table pop up harvest feast for 150 people with food from local community gardens, were also some of the many highlights this year.
Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike Cubbard (IND) said, “I’m delighted to see this innovative festival recognised on the national stage. The Galway Climate Inspirations Festival sets a precedent for integrating cultural engagement with environmental initiative – as the first climate festival organised by a local authority. It advances Galway’s climate action plan goals and positions the City as a leader in innovative climate action”.
Leonard Cleary, Chief Executive, Galway City Council said, “Galway Climate Festival transformed Galway City into a vibrant hub of positive climate action; blending the arts, culture, and community engagement for all the community to enjoy. Over 30 events were organised as part of the festival which drew in over 20,000 people to the City over the course of the weekend. From post festival survey feedback analysis, we can see that 80% of respondents felt that the festival was successful in changing the narrative around climate change to that of a positive, and 83% felt that it was successful in promoting climate action in the City. 75% of respondents were inspired to make sustainable actions after the festival – this type of action and sentiment is essential for Galway City Council to deliver climate action in partnership with the diverse communities in our city”.
Tiarnan McCusker, Community Climate Action Officer, Galway City Council, said, “The festival’s title ‘Climate Inspirations – Communities in Action’ meant we wanted from the outset to engage with as many communities in Galway as possible – including the dramatic, musical, artistic, culinary, active travel, Gaelige and sports communities. Thanks to all of the performers, speakers, schools, community groups, attendees and participants who have helped to make this ground-breaking festival such a success. Thank you to festival sponsors including the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP), Creative Ireland, the Anti Dumping Initiative, Galway City Council Arts Office, Claddagh Credit Union, Galway Tidy Towns, and Community Foundation Ireland, and to event organisers Milestone Inventive and Hinterland West. Thanks to all for your support and we look forward to continued engagement on positive climate action in 2026 and beyond”.
This year, a record number of 259 submissions were received from 26 Local Authorities, underscoring the importance of these awards in showcasing the high standard of service provided by Local Authorities to their communities.
